Were men or women more central to the success of colonists in the American Revolution?
Men were more central to the success of colonists in the American Revolution. From the beginning of the colonies, men had all the control over any type of governments or systems of authority, and made all proposals of change to these systems. This is evident through many historical documents and other historical texts, as well as through figures like George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and other iconic men.
George Washington was one very important male figure in the American Revolution. Washington was from Virginia, and was sent at the young age of twenty-one to be the lieutenant colonel in command of about 150 militiamen (Kennedy 113). Trust and a lot of responsibility was put into this man, and notice he was in charge of men. This was a whole group of male power to put into the French and Indian War, which Washington himself started. From this, you get the idea that men were thought to be stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. Washington not only had to be able to have the stamina to fight and lead, but he had to be smart enough to be victorious, and emotionally stable to handle violence. This male dominance allowed the British colonies to get rid of all French colonies in North America. Later, he was even appointed the leader of the American army during the Revolutionary War (Kennedy 142).
At the very beginning of this world wide war, a sense of disunity became apparent, and another strong male figure stepped in. In 1754 the Albany Congress was held with the goal of uniting the colonies for better protection from the French, and who better to propose this idea than Ben Franklin (Kennedy 113). A very intelligent, self educated man, Franklin came up with an accurate cartoon depicting the disunity of the colonies. This cartoon, still famous today, is a picture of a snake in eight different parts. New England at the head of the snake, already unified, was followed by New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with the slogan “JOIN, or DIE,” at the bottom (Kennedy 113). This was Franklin’s attempt at persuading the colonies toward unity, and while it was ignored at the time, his idea of uniting was followed twenty years later.
Franklin continued to be an important figure with his creativity and intelligence with his letter written to the editor of the “London Chronicle.” Writing under the name of Benevolus, Franklin put up a worthy argument to, in a sense, give the colonies a break. Written in 1767, his argument surrounded mainly around “taxation without representation” (Benevolus). He made legitimate points including the fact that the colonists have started from scratch and have their own things to pay for without taxes, and that they should not be punished with taxes, for the colonists have obeyed all laws until they felt they had been wrongly taxed (Benevolus). While Franklin did write this letter anonymously, what are the chances it would have even gotten a side glance if it had been suspected to be written by a woman? Women at the time did not have a good enough education to write the way Franklin did, or so many thought, which is probably why his letter got any consideration whatsoever.
John Adams was another key male figure in the revolution. During the First Continental Congress in 1774, Adams was the one to persuade his colleagues towards a revolutionary course, which after argument, led to the creation of the Declaration of Rights (Kennedy 134). John Adams did have a relatively well known wife, though, that wrote several letters that are still famous today, but these letters support that men were superior and were most important to America’s success. In one letter written by Abigail Adams in May of 1776 regarding the boycott of British goods, she mentions a few times the need of a strong local government (Adams). These letters are written to her husband, and this government was a suggestion. She was suggesting that the men of the community needed to get together and form a government that would be fairer than the oppressing British King. Also, she mentions in that same letter how men retain “absolute power over wives” (Adams). While she herself seems to be a strong willed and fairly well educated woman, she makes it clear that men have power, and are the ones to make a difference.
In another letter written by Abigail to John, she regards the situation of declaring independence. She says it has yet to happen, but longs for it to happen; again, this is another suggestion for the men because they are the ones with the power (Letter from Abigail). While she does remind John to keep “Ladies” in some place of importance, the whole letter is about putting power into the hands of men. Yes, she does mention the chance of a tyrannical rule without attention to women, but ultimately, she knows women would not be the ones able to rule. These suggestions she is making in the letters to have a strong government is directed towards men, specifically her husband. The men are supposed to carry out these things she is asking of. But if you think about it, were here requests of “Remembering the Ladies” ever completely carried out? Maybe by her husband on a more personal level, but men ultimately ruled. They were the reason for the success. They paid little attention to women specifically. They cared about the common good and victory (Letter from Abigail).
Clearly, men were more central to the success of the Revolution. While there may have been some women doing behind the scenes work, like Abigail Adams, it was men that took charge and made the victory happen. It was men like George Washington, Ben Franklin, and John Adams. These men were thought to be physically, mentally, and emotionally stronger, and were ultimately victorious.
Sources
Adams, Abigail. "Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776." Women in America. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 1999. American Journey.Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.
Adams, Abigail. "Letter Regarding the Boycott." The American Revolution. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 1999. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.
Benevolus. The London Chronicle [London] 11 Apr. 1767. Print
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, Thomas Andrew Bailey, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Print.
Were men or women more central to the success of colonists in the American Revolution?
Men were more central to the success of colonists in the American Revolution. From the beginning of the colonies, men had all the control over any type of governments or systems of authority, and made all proposals of change to these systems. This is evident through many historical documents and other historical texts, as well as through figures like George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and other iconic men.
George Washington was one very important male figure in the American Revolution. Washington was from Virginia, and was sent at the young age of twenty-one to be the lieutenant colonel in command of about 150 militiamen (Kennedy 113). Trust and a lot of responsibility was put into this man, and notice he was in charge of men. This was a whole group of male power to put into the French and Indian War, which Washington himself started. From this, you get the idea that men were thought to be stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. Washington not only had to be able to have the stamina to fight and lead, but he had to be smart enough to be victorious, and emotionally stable to handle violence. This male dominance allowed the British colonies to get rid of all French colonies in North America. Later, he was even appointed the leader of the American army during the Revolutionary War (Kennedy 142).
At the very beginning of this world wide war, a sense of disunity became apparent, and another strong male figure stepped in. In 1754 the Albany Congress was held with the goal of uniting the colonies for better protection from the French, and who better to propose this idea than Ben Franklin (Kennedy 113). A very intelligent, self educated man, Franklin came up with an accurate cartoon depicting the disunity of the colonies. This cartoon, still famous today, is a picture of a snake in eight different parts. New England at the head of the snake, already unified, was followed by New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with the slogan “JOIN, or DIE,” at the bottom (Kennedy 113). This was Franklin’s attempt at persuading the colonies toward unity, and while it was ignored at the time, his idea of uniting was followed twenty years later.
Franklin continued to be an important figure with his creativity and intelligence with his letter written to the editor of the “London Chronicle.” Writing under the name of Benevolus, Franklin put up a worthy argument to, in a sense, give the colonies a break. Written in 1767, his argument surrounded mainly around “taxation without representation” (Benevolus). He made legitimate points including the fact that the colonists have started from scratch and have their own things to pay for without taxes, and that they should not be punished with taxes, for the colonists have obeyed all laws until they felt they had been wrongly taxed (Benevolus). While Franklin did write this letter anonymously, what are the chances it would have even gotten a side glance if it had been suspected to be written by a woman? Women at the time did not have a good enough education to write the way Franklin did, or so many thought, which is probably why his letter got any consideration whatsoever.
John Adams was another key male figure in the revolution. During the First Continental Congress in 1774, Adams was the one to persuade his colleagues towards a revolutionary course, which after argument, led to the creation of the Declaration of Rights (Kennedy 134). John Adams did have a relatively well known wife, though, that wrote several letters that are still famous today, but these letters support that men were superior and were most important to America’s success. In one letter written by Abigail Adams in May of 1776 regarding the boycott of British goods, she mentions a few times the need of a strong local government (Adams). These letters are written to her husband, and this government was a suggestion. She was suggesting that the men of the community needed to get together and form a government that would be fairer than the oppressing British King. Also, she mentions in that same letter how men retain “absolute power over wives” (Adams). While she herself seems to be a strong willed and fairly well educated woman, she makes it clear that men have power, and are the ones to make a difference.
In another letter written by Abigail to John, she regards the situation of declaring independence. She says it has yet to happen, but longs for it to happen; again, this is another suggestion for the men because they are the ones with the power (Letter from Abigail). While she does remind John to keep “Ladies” in some place of importance, the whole letter is about putting power into the hands of men. Yes, she does mention the chance of a tyrannical rule without attention to women, but ultimately, she knows women would not be the ones able to rule. These suggestions she is making in the letters to have a strong government is directed towards men, specifically her husband. The men are supposed to carry out these things she is asking of. But if you think about it, were here requests of “Remembering the Ladies” ever completely carried out? Maybe by her husband on a more personal level, but men ultimately ruled. They were the reason for the success. They paid little attention to women specifically. They cared about the common good and victory (Letter from Abigail).
Clearly, men were more central to the success of the Revolution. While there may have been some women doing behind the scenes work, like Abigail Adams, it was men that took charge and made the victory happen. It was men like George Washington, Ben Franklin, and John Adams. These men were thought to be physically, mentally, and emotionally stronger, and were ultimately victorious.
Sources
Adams, Abigail. "Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776." Women in America. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 1999. American Journey.Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.
Adams, Abigail. "Letter Regarding the Boycott." The American Revolution. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 1999. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.
Benevolus. The London Chronicle [London] 11 Apr. 1767. Print
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, Thomas Andrew Bailey, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Print.